Printer device with facsimile function and methods of operation

Abstract: The present invention is a printer device with facsimile function comprising: a printer means for printing printing data; a facsimile means for transmitting data input from a scanner to other party's facsimile using a telephone line; an operation panel provided with an operation command input means having a plurality of command input keys, a first switch for selecting either facsimile function or printer function and second switch for switching a part of the plurality for operation command input keys to numerical data input keys; a storing means for storing reservation data input from the operation command input keys for communications with facsimile; and a control section for setting a part of the plurality of operation command input keys to the numerical data input keys when the first switch selects facsimile function and the second switch selects numerical data input keys, converting numerical data input from the numerical data input keys to dial data and controls write/read operation of the reservation data to the storing means.

Description: This invention relates to a printer device with facsimile function. A particular printer device with facsimile function to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the invention is configured so that the entire device can be switched either to facsimile mode or printer mode by an external command. Because prior printer devices with facsimile function were not provided with dial functions, data transmission was conducted after first dialing a telephone externally attached to the printer to call the other party's facsimile. When a connection was established with the facsimile of the other party via a telephone line, data was read in by an attached scanner and the data thus obtained was transmitted to the other party's facsimile. When data transmission was complete, once again signals were exchanged with the other party's facsimile, followed by breaking of the connection with the other party's facsimile. Also, output density, image quality setting and other transmission settings were made by various special operation keys before data transmission on -line was started. However, because the prior printer devices with facsimile function were not equipped with a dial function, an externally attached telephone was necessary, and at the same time, operation required dialing the externally attached telephone to call the other party's facsimile. In addition, there was no memory function to record the telephone number, etc. of the other party's facsimile. Also, because operation was conducted using separate special operation keys for transmission settings, it was necessary to have separate operation keys for operations of printer and facsimile. Thus, because many operation keys were used on the operation panel, the operation panel became large enough to cause inconvenience. In the specification of European patent application number 87106686.6, which was published under number 244869 on November 11 1987, there was proposed a facsimile apparatus having a plurality of memory areas for storing data, such as telephone number data, a key-in unit for selecting respective data and a control unit for executing a broadcasting or a polling function of group data selected by the key-in unit, according to a specific discrimination code. Keys may be operated to designate memory image-print data, and the image data to be transmitted is read out from a memory and printed out. In the specification of European patent application number 91116464.8, which was published under number 477947 on April 1 1992, there was proposed a switch for sharing a multifunction peripheral device associated with a plurality of systems, including computer systems, and facsimile machines. The switch stored the current state of the peripheral device with respect to each of the systems, so that when a particular system requested access to the device the switch was able to restore the state of the peripheral device to the last state established by the system requesting access. There will be described below, by way of example, a multi-functional printer device with facsimile function that minimises the above-mentioned problems, enables the size of the device to be reduced, and makes unnecessary a separate external telephone for use in transmitting data. In a particular arrangement to be described a printer device with facsimile function includes a printer means for printing printing data; a facsimile means for transmitting data input from a scanner to other party's facsimile using a telephone line; an operation panel provided with an operation command input means having a plurality of command input keys, a first switch for selecting either facsimile function or printer function and second switch for switching a part of the plurality for operation command input keys to numerical data input keys; a storing means for storing reservation data input from the operation command input keys and to be used for facsimile communications; and a control section for setting a part of the plurality of operation command input keys as the numerical data input keys when the first switch selects facsimile function and the second switch selects numerical data input keys, converting a numerical data input from the numerical data input keys to a dial data and controls write and read operations of the reservation data to the storing means. As a result, an externally attached telephone which conventionally was considered necessary can be dispensed with, because the numerical data input through the ten keys can be converted to dial data and be output by operation of a function switching means and a main control section. Also, operation of the ten key setting switch makes it possible to use ten keys as other types of keys or as function keys even in facsimile mode. Moreover, due to the operation of the storing means and the main control section, it becomes possible to take a verbatim record of the transmitted data identifying the other party and the transmission conditions of its facsimile and read it out any time, as necessary. These points make it possible to increase the multifunctional capabilities of the entire device, and concomitantly, its functional effectiveness, making it possible to provide a superior facsimile function-equipped printer than conventionally possible. The following description and drawings disclose by means of an example, the invention which is characterised in the appended claims, whose terms determine the extent of the protection conferred hereby. In the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a block schematic circuit diagram of a printer device with a facsimile function, Fig. 2 is an external view of the operation panel of the printer device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation during facsimile transmission of the printer device, and Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the operations that take place during reservation registration. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a page printer section, numeral 2 a facsimile section, numeral 3 an operation panel and numeral 4 a main control section. The page printer section 1 includes a printing data section 12 for inputting printing data sent from other devices, a printing data editing section 13 for editing input printing data, a printing section 14 for printing edited printing data on a sheet of paper and a print controller 11 for controlling the various parts of the page printer. The facsimile section 2 includes a scanner 22 for reading in data for transmission, an image data storing section 23 for storing image data read in by the scanner 22 in a data buffer, a compression restoration section 24 for conducting compression processing of image data in the image data storing section 23, a communication control section 25 for controlling exchange of signals with other party's facsimile 5, a modem section 26 for modulating compressed image data, a net control section 37 for transmitting and outputting image data from the modem section 26 via telephone line 2A to other party's facsimile 5 and a facsimile controller 21 for controlling each of these sections. As shown in Fig.2, the operation panel 3 comprises a control switching section 31 and an operation command input means 32. Among these controls, the control switching section 31 includes a mode switching means 33 for switching between printer mode and facsimile mode and setting each mode, and a ten key setting switch 34 for switching operation command input keys 35 of an operation command input means 32 to ten keys for numerical data input or function keys for operation command input. When mode switching means 33 is set to printer mode, input signals such as an operation command, etc. input from the operation panel 3 are input to the main control section 4, which sets the entire device to printer mode and input signals such as an operation command, etc. are output from the main control section 4 to printer controller 11. When mode switching means 33 is set to facsimile mode, the input signals such as operation commands, etc. input from the operation panel 3 are input to the main control section 4, the main control section 4 sets the entire device to facsimile mode and the input signals such as operation commands, etc. are output from the main control section 4 to the facsimile controller 21. Next, when ten key setting switch 34 is turned on, some of the operation command input keys 35 within the operation command input means 32 function as ten keys for numerical data input by the main control section 4. Numerical data output to the controller specified by mode switching means 33 via the main control section 4 is converted to dial data in the main control section 4 and output to the facsimile controller 21. When the ten key setting switch 34 is turned off, the operation command input keys 35 of the operation command input means 32 function as function keys for the input of operation commands by the control section 4. These are output from the controller specified by the mode switching means 33 via the main control section 4. When the operation command input means 32 functions as function keys, the functions of the operation command input keys 35 can be switched between printer mode and facsimile mode. For example, in printer mode, "New page" key 35a, "New line" key 35b, "Font" key 35c, "Reduce" key 35d and "Paper" key 35e, etc. become "Send" key 35a, "Image quality" key 35b, "Transmit mode" key 35c, "Set time" key 35d and "Reservation function selection" key 35e, etc. in facsimile mode. In this way, by changing the settings of the mode switching means 33 and the ten key setting switch 34 of the control switching section 31, the operation command input keys 35 of the operation command input means 32 can be set as three types of data input keys, i.e., ten keys, printer function keys or facsimile function keys by the ten key setting switching function of the main control section 4, so there is no need to have separate sets of operation command input keys 35. This multifunctional use of the operation command input keys 35 of the operation panel 3 makes possible the reduction of the number of keys used. When being switched the ten key setting switch 34 and selected facsimile mode by the mode switching means 33, a numerical data input from ten keys is converted to dial a data by the dial function of the main control section 4 and is output to the facsimile controller 21, so there is no need for an externally attached telephone. In facsimile mode, when "reservation function selection" key 35e is input, the following reservation data input through the operation command input means 32 is stored in the memory 41 of the main control section 4. Among the classifications of reservation data that can be registered are "other party's telephone number", "transmission reservation time", "image quality", "transmit mode" and the like. Reservation data settings can be selected as necessary. When input of the various items of reservation data is complete, a reservation number (for example, 01) is input at the end. The main control section 4 specifies the writing in of this reservation data with the reservation number as a key, then the reservation function setting is terminated. Next, the operation of a printer device with facsimile function configured as above is explained. First, in facsimile transmission, the mode switching means 33 of the control switching section 31 provided on the operation panel 3 is switched to facsimile mode, the entire device is set as facsimile mode, input data such as an operation command and the like from the operation command input means 32 provided on the operation panel 3 are input to the main control section 4, and the data are output to the facsimile controller 21 from the main control section. Then, the main control section 4, when the ten key setting switch 34 of the control switching section 31 is turned on, a part of the operation command input keys 35 of the operation command input means 32 are made to function as ten keys for input of numerical data by the main control section 4, a numerical data signal from ten keys is input to the main control section 4. The numerical data input to the main control section 4 is converted to a dial data, and output to the facsimile controller 21. Next, when the ten key setting switch 34 is turned off, the main control section 4 switches each of the operation command input keys 35 to function keys, an operation command signal from the function keys is input to the main control section 4. Now the operations of the embodiment in facsimile mode are explained, based on flow charts of Fig.3 and Fig.4. Fig.3 is a flow chart showing operations during facsimile transmission. First, the mode switching means 33 is set to facsimile mode (Step 101). The main control section 4 sets the entire device to facsimile mode and the signals from the operation panel 3 that follow are output to the facsimile controller 21 via the main control section 4. Next, determination is made whether or not the other party's telephone number and transmission conditions are registered (Step 102). If they are, the flow continues to Step 103, and if they are not, to Step 105. In Step 103, the ten key setting switch 34 is turned on, a part of the operation command input keys 35 are made to function as ten keys for input of numerical data and a reservation number (for example, 01) is input by these ten keys (Step 103). When a reservation number is input, the main control section 4 reads out reservation data from the memory 41 and outputs the data to the facsimile controller 21 (Step 104). Next, the ten key setting switch 34 is turned off to activate function keys and "Transmit" key 35a is input (Step 105). If a reservation data is not registered, in Step 106 the ten key setting switch 34 is turned on or off as appropriate to use function keys or ten keys to input "Image quality", "Transmit mode" or other transmission condition settings (Step 106). These transmission conditions are output as control signals from the facsimile controller 21 to the various sections within the facsimile section 2. The ten key setting switch 34 is turned on to switch the operation command input keys 35 to ten keys, and the telephone number of the other party is input through the ten keys (Step 107). After the telephone number of the other party is input, similarly to the case that a reservation data is registered, the flow moves on to Step 105. the ten key setting switch 34 is turned off to switch to function keys and "Transmit" key 35a is input (Step 105). When "Transmit" key 35a is input, the facsimile controller 21 gives a command to the control section 25 to dial the other party's telephone number and begins communication processing for transmission and reception of data with the other party's facsimile 5 (Step 108). If the other party's facsimile 5 is ready to receive, the facsimile controller 21 gives a command for the scanner 22 to read in transmission data (Step 109). The image data read in by the scanner 22 is then stored in the data buffer of the image data record section 23 (Step 110). This image data is output successively from the image data section 23 to the compression/restoration section 24 and is compressed at the compression/ restoration section 24 (Step 111). The compressed image data is output to the modem section 26 via the communication control section 25, and is modulated at the modem section 26 (Step 112). The modulated image data is transmitted from the net control section 27 to the other party's facsimile 5 via the telephone line 2A (Step 113). When the other party's facsimile 5 receives the image data and finishes printout, the facsimile controller 21 conducts communication completion processing (Step 114). Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the operations at the time of registration of reservation data. First, the mode switching means 33 is switched to facsimile mode (Step 201) and registration data reservation signals output from the operation panel 3 are output to the main control section 4. Next, "Reservation function selection" key 35e is input (Step 202) and the following input data input from the operation command input means 32 is written and recorded as reservation data in the memory 41 of the main control section 4. Reservation data that can be registered includes "other party's telephone number," "transmission reservation time," "Image quality", "Transmit mode" and the like. The ten key setting switch 34 is turned on or off as appropriate for operation of the function keys or the ten keys to input other transmission condition settings such as "Image quality", "Transmit mode", etc. (Step 203). When input of each classification of reservation data is complete, finally a reservation number (for example, 01) is set and input (Step 204). When the reservation number is input, the main control section 4 specifies the writing in this number to the reservation data memory 41 (Step 205), and then the reservation function is terminated. During facsimile transmission, input of reservation numbers causes readout of transmission conditions "other party's telephone number" registered in the memory 41 of the main control section 4 and the data are output to the facsimile controller 21. The facsimile controller 21 automatically dials, and transmission occurs in accordance with transmission conditions. It will be understood that although the invention has been illustrated by means of a particular example, variations and modifications thereof, as well as other embodiments, may be made within the extent of the protection conferred by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims: A printer device with a facsimile function including a printer section (1) for use in printing data, a facsimile section (2) for use in transmitting to another party's facsimile machine (5) data which has been input from a scanner (22) using a telephone line (2A), and a plurality of input keys (35) for inputting data to the device, characterised in that the printer section (1) is for use in printing printer data which has been received from another device, and in that there is provided a switching means (31) for switching the function of the data input keys (35) between a first function in which they operate to provide data representing operational commands as inputs for the printer device when providing a facsimile function and a second function in which they operate to provide telephone number dialling data as inputs to the device. A printer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching means (31) includes a first switch (33) for selecting either a facsimile function or a printer function, a second switch (34) for switching a part of the plurality of input keys (35) to operate as numerical data input keys, and a control section (4) for setting the part of the plurality of input keys (35) as numerical data input keys and converting numerical data input from the numerical input keys to provide dialling data when the first switch (33) selects the facsimile function and the second switch (34) is switched to select the part of the plurality of input keys (35) to operate as numerical data input keys. A printer device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of input keys (35), the first switch (33) and the second switch (34) are provided on an operation panel (3) of the printer device. A printer device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control section (4) sets the plurality of input keys (35) as keys for inputting an operation command for the facsimile section (2) when the first switch (33) selects the facsimile function, and sets the plurality of input keys (35) as keys for inputting an operation command for the printer means when the first switch (33) selects the printer function. A printer device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 including a storing means (41) for storing reservation data to be used for facsimile communications and input from the input keys (35) when the facsimile function is selected, wherein the control section (4) controls the storing operation of the reservation data to the storing means (41) and the reading operation of the reservation data from the storing means (41). A printer device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control section (4) controls the storage of the reservation data stored in the storing means (41) using the numerical data input from the numerical data input keys (35). A method for use in switching the function of a plurality of input keys (35) provided on an operation panel (3) of a printer device having a facsimile function, the panel (3) including a first switch (33) for selecting either a facsimile function or a printer function and a second switch (34) for switching the input keys (35) to numerical data input keys, including the steps of setting the plurality of input keys (35) as operation command input keys for the control of the facsimile function when the first switch (33) selects the facsimile function, as operation command input keys for the control of the printer function when the first switch (33) selects the printer function, and a part of the plurality of input keys (35) as telephone number dialling data input keys when the first switch (33) selects the facsimile function and the second switch (34) selects the telephone number dialling data input function. A method as claimed in claim 7 including the step of converting the numerical data input from the numerical data input keys to dial data. A method as claimed in either claim 7 or claim 8 including the step of inputting a reservation number to a store controlling the operation command input from the input keys (35) by the stored reservation number.

Inventors: MATSUZAWA KUNIHIKO, MATSUZAWA, KUNIHIKO, MATSUZAWA, KUNIHIKO, C/O NEC CORPORATION
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N1, B41J29